USS Constellation (CV-64)

USS Constellation (CV-64), a Kitty Hawk-class[?] aircraft carrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States. The contract to build her was awarded to the New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York, on 1 July 1956, and her keel was laid down 14 September 1957, at the New York Navy Yard. She was launched 8 October 1960, sponsored by Mary Herter (wife of Secretary of State Christian Herter), delivered to the Navy 1 October 1961, and commissioned 27 October 1961, with Captain T.J. Walker in command. At that time, she had cost about US$400 million.

On 19 December 1960, fire swept through the USS Constellation while it was under construction at a Brooklyn Navy Yard pier, injuring 150, killing 50, and doing $75 million worth of damage.

When deployed to the Middle East as part of the the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Constellation carried nine squadrons:

• VF-2 Bounty Hunters (ten F-14D Tomcats)
• VFA-137 Kestrels, VFA-151 Vigilantes, and VMFA-323 Death Rattlers (each with 12 F/A-18C Hornets)
• VAW-116 Sun Kings (four E-2C Hawkeyes)
• VAQ-131 Lancers (four EA-6B Prowlers)
• VS-38 Red Griffins (eight S-3B Vikings)
• HS-2 Golden Falcons (two SH-60F Seahawks and six HH-60H Pave Hawks)
• VRC-30 Providers Detachment 2 (two C-2A Greyhounds)

In early 2003, plans are for Constellation to go into mothballs after she completes her deployment. Connie will be replaced by Ronnie, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).

See USS Constellation for other ships with this name.